2 facing recall effort on Millbrae’s council

Both surpassed the necessary 60 signatures from verified district residents required to move into the next steps of the recall process, the actual recall petition, according to Millbrae City Clerk Elaine Tran. To trigger a recall vote, the petitions must receive signatures from 25% of applicable registered voters. If the signatures are collected and verified, an election shall be neither less than 60 days nor more than 80 days later but it can be 180 days from the date of certification to be consolidated with the next scheduled election, according to the state recall guidelines. The next regularly scheduled election is March 5.

“The grounds for the recall are as follows: ignoring the concerns and wishes of the community, failure to protect Millbrae’s fiscal sustainability, neglecting your fiduciary duties as an elected city officials, working with county chief executive without transparency and against the best interests of your constituents, undermining the fundamental trust of the community, as demonstrated by your actions with the La Quinta Inn project,” the notices read.

Many Millbrae residents and officials were publicly against San Mateo County’s intent to purchase of the 99-room La Quinta Inn at 1390 El Camino Real, with the intention of creating affordable housing for families and seniors experiencing homelessness. Several city officials, including Mayor Ann Schneider, were against the project — citing Millbrae’s financial limitations and decreasing hotel revenue — but both Goodman and Cahalan originally supported the purchase. The city of Millbrae is now disputing the county’s purchase on state constitutional grounds.

Signatories for the petitions did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Goodman, a longtime community elected official, said he plans to continue to “focus on the work” as citizens exercise their rights and make their opinions known.

“We were elected to do the work of our community, to do as much good for as long as we can … I encourage all residents to engage, be a part of this process, let their voices be heard,” he said. “If a small percent of the community wants to pursue this process, not that I welcome it, but it is at their legal disposal.”

Cahalan did not immediately respond to request for comment, but posted a video on her Instagram page in response to the recall.

“As someone new to politics, I brought a unique and different perspective and posed questions that have deepened the conversation, both in the community and in the City Council meetings,” she said. “I am deeply saddened by this turn of events, however, I will continue to serve this city, and you, my neighbors, for as long as I am able.”